Flushing apparatus.



L. SIMMONS.

FLUSHING APPARATUS.

APBLICATION FILED AUG. 15, I912.

Patented June 15 'rLusHme APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

Application filed August 15, 1912. Serial No. 715,244.

To all whom it may concern:

' Referringv to the accompanying Flushing Apparatus,

Be it known that I, Lno SIMMONS, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in of whicht-he following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in flushing apparatus for closet bowls and other purposes; and the objects'and nature of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I now believe to be my preferred embodiment from among other formations and arrangements within the spirit-and scope of my invention. j V

An object of the invention is to provide certain improvements in and relating to the structure disclosed in. the Patent No.

1,008,928 issued to me on Nov. 14, 1911 for flushing apparatus, with of reducing the cost of of increasing the adaptimprovements in the ends in view manufacture and ability of theapparatus for use under cer- "DIGSSUIB-IGlIBVIDg water passage 11, extendtain peculiar conditions.

A further object of the invention ,is to provide certain improvements in details of construction and in arrangements and combinations of parts as more fully and-particularly pointed out hereinafter,

ings:-Figure 1, is a longitudinal vertical section, with the parts in normal closed. positions. Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6,.are detail views. I r

The casing for the flushing apparatus is preferably vertically disposed and has a top dome 1, forming a pressure chamber.- This dome can be formed in several sections, if so desired, united by-scr'ew threads although I do not wish to so limit my inven-.- tion. provided with a side or lateral supply Water inlet or opening 2, for the attachment of the pipe to supply the water under pressure for flushing purposes. Thelower end of the dome is open screw threads or otherwise, of the vertical casing sectionv3, forming a downwardcontinuation of the dome and in its upper end provided with an upwardly facing annular. valve seat 4:, surrounding the outlet port from the dome.

The casing section 3, formed with a the relief'passage 11. draw.-

This dome at its lower ortion is for the attachment, by

for the stem.

hollow lateral enlargement or bulge 5, at

its lower end providing the downwardly. opening flushing water outlet '6, adapted to receive the pipe or' other connection for conveying the flushing water to the article I section 3, isformed with a bottom opening, to one side of the outlet 6, and receiving (by screw threads or otherwise) the upper end of a depending cylinder, preferably a dash pot cylinder 7. This cylinder forms a rigid downward continuation of the easrngand at 1ts upper end is open to the easinga small bottom dischargeopening controlled by pet cock 9. The -flushing'fiow of water is controlled by the verticallymovable laterally-tiltable main valve 10,

normally resting on the seat 4:, and closing ing. while its lower end is closed. If so desued, the lower end of said cylinder can i be formed with a rigid reduced downward extension 8, forming a-sediment pocket haw the outlet port from the dome into casing section .This valve is provided with a ing vertically therethrough and at its upper 13, normally rests on the seat 12,-an closes The relief valve is carried (when elevated from its seat) by vertical valve'steml l,

on which said'valve is preferably longitudinally adjustable as by screw threads. ,If so des1red,-a lock or jam nut '15, can be provided to lock the valvein the desired position longitudinally of the stem.

If so -desired,"the stem can extend up wardly within the dome 1, and into a verti cally elongated socket or sleeve 16, depending within the dome from the'upper end thereof. The internal diameter of this sleeve is considerably in excess ofthe diameter of the valve stem 14, and the sleeve is de-' signed to prevent excessive'lateral' movement 'f of thestem when in its elevated position.

However, Ifldo not wish to limit myinvention to theemployment of this looseguide .The' stem 14,- extends longitudinally through the passage '11, of the main valve and is of reduced size with respect to said passage'to permit the necessary, pressure fiow'of'water through said passage relieving The lifting toe elevates and also to permit the main valve to rock laterally indepemlently of said stem. The stem depends vertically through the casing section 3, and at its lower end is fixed to a piston 17, vertically movable in the dash pot cylinder. At a point above said piston, the stem is formed with a transverse slot 18, extending longitudinally thereof, and the stem is preferably provided with an antifriction roll 18, disposed in the top end portion of said slot. The stein-lifting toe or finger 19, extends loosely through said slot and is formed with a curved or cam top longitudinal edge to engage said roll and lift the stem without tilting or deflecting the stem laterally. The lifting toe 19 is fixed to a horizontal rock shaft 20, extending transversely through the upper portion of the lateral hollow bulge 5, of the casing. This shaft is provided with an operating handle 21, conveniently arranged at the exterior of the casing.

At the proper distance below the main valve 10, the stem 14', is provided with a valve lifting and tilting abutment 22, and this abutment is of greater elevation on one side 22 of the stem' than on the other side for the purpose of tilting the main valve laterally when lifting the same as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of my hereinbefore mentioned patent.

I provide the valve stem 14, with a transverse surface, disk, enlargement, or Wing located a distance below the main valve and above the dash pot piston and interposed directly in the path of the flushing water when discharging down from the dome, to receive the full downward force, pressure or weight thereof and transmit the same to the dash pot piston to aid in initially starting said piston on its downward course after a flushing operation. In the particular example illustrated, this transverse surface or disk is formed by a cup 23, centered on and secured to the stem 14, between the stem lifting toe 19, and the piston 17. This cup is located directly below and in the vertical line of the discharge port from the dome and receives the impact of the downwardly rushing column of water from said port when the main valve is opened.

In the particular example illustrated, the

operating handle is normally in a vertical position and is comparatively short. \Vhen this handle is pressed downwardly the shaft is thereby rocked to elevate the lifting toe. the valve stem and opens the pressure relief passage 11, by raising the comparatively small relief valve. As the stem continues on its upward movement, the elevated portion 22 of the abutment 22, engages the lower end of the main valve 10, at one side and thereby elevates saidvalve and tilts the same laterally from its seat so that the valve is elevated entirely clear of the seat in a laterally tilted position with respect to the stem, whereby certain advantages are attained. The dash pot piston ismoved up with the stem during this operation, and the sleeve 1'3, loosely receives the upper end of the stem and serves as a guide to prevent undue lateral play of the stem. It is desirable to so arrange and construct the valve mechanism, and the dash pot as to reduce to the minimum the initial pressure required to swing the operating handle and elevate the relief valve and also the pressure required to lift the main valve a full stroke and thereby bring about the full flushing flow of water into the casing 3. This flushing flow of water fills the casing and discharges through the outlet 6, to the article to be flushed.

A proper flushing operation requires that the main valve 10, be held elevated a sufficient length of time to permit the discharge of at least a certain quantity of water, before said valve closes against its seat. The length of time that the main valveis held elevated is controlled by the dash pot piston. This piston is designed to move freely up through the water in the dash pot cylinderwhen the valve mechanism is being opened, and to settle slowly through the water in said cylinder to bring about closing of the valve mechanism when the necessary quantity of flushing water has been discharged. To accomplish this result, I provide the dash pot piston with a valve mechanism comprising a packing ring whereby passages'a-re opened for the passage of water through the piston when the piston is being elevated, and whereby these passages are closed when the piston starts on its downward movement.

'F or instance, I show the piston formed of metal, although I do not wish to so limit my invention, and'provided with an annular circumferential depressed cylindrical groove or seat 25, terminating at its upper and lower edges in annular stop shoulders or abutments 26. Several water passages or ports 27, open through the bottom face or head of the piston and extend longitudinally within the piston and at their upper ends have lateralinlet ports 27, opening radially through the circumference of the piston within the upper portion of said cylindrical groove or depressed seat 25. A split expansible packing band or ring 28, is confined to and surrounds the piston and is located in said depressed seat 25. The vertical length or width of this packing ring is less than the vertical length or width of the depressed seat 25, so that said ring is afforded a limited longitudinal or vertical movement in said seat. The arrangement is such that when the ring is in its lowermost position with respect to the piston, the radial inlet ports of passages 27, will be un- 7 flow freely from the upper side of the pis- "ton to the lower side thereof, so that the 'piston exerts a minimum load against the operating movement of the actuating handle. When the actuating handle has been swung down a full operating stroke (to raise the main valve its full opening stroke) and released, gravity and the pressure of the flushing water on the element 23, tend to move piston, stem and valves to normal lowered positions and to swing the actuating handle up to normal elevated or vertical position. As soon as the piston starts on, 1ts downward movement, the frictional engagement of the pack-ing ring with the cylinder wall will hold said ring back until it as sumes its elevated position closing the radial ports of passages 27, see Fig. 3, and thereby preventing free flow of water therethrough from the under side of the piston to the upper'side thereof. The piston hence drops slowly through the water in the cylinder as said water leaks slowly past the piston and its packing ring.

The element 23, is provided to receive the direct impact and pressure of the descending flow of flushing water, and thereby and in starting the piston and parts controlled thereby on their movements toward normal position and to aid in overcoming any possible tendency of the piston to stick or bind and to aid in overcoming the weight of the actuating handle in resisting return to normal position.

Substances in the water might tend to corrode or otherwise act on the surfaces of the cylinder and piston and tend to cause said piston to adhere to the cylinder walls and refuse to move down to normal position and thereby hold the valve mechanism open. To overcome any possible tendency of the piston to stick or refuse to start on its closing movement by reason of action of the water, or substances in the water, on the metal surface of the cylinder, I provide said cylinder with a lining 30, of some suitable non-corrodible material. I find hard vulcanized rubber or gutta percha, or its equivalent, well adapted for this purpose. The action of the water on this lining seems to render the surface thereof smooth or slippery so that it has no tendency to cause the piston to stick or bind, but on the contrary said surface seems to lubricate the piston rendering it quick to-respond in initially starting onthe downward movement. These bushings .or linings are comparatively inexpensive and are inserted and suitably fixed in the dash pot cylinders and avoid the necessity of grinding or accurately finishing the interior surfaces of the cylinders which is a comparatively expensive operation.

of thehard rubber bushings.

-If so desired, the dash pot piston can be provided with a rigid pin 31, depending into the sediment pocket to loosen up sediment that may collect therein. Also if so desired,

an additional split expansible packing" ring 32, can surround the xepansible packing ring 28, to break joints therewith and prevent undue passage of water between the ends thereof formed by the split or cut therein. These two rings move together vertically of. the piston and act asa single packing ring.

It is evident that various changes, varia: tions and modifications might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the particular mechanical expressions of my invention disclosed hereby. 1

What I claim is l 1. In a flushing apparatus, in combination, a vertically disposed casing having an inlet and an outlet and an intermediate internal valve seat, the lower portion of said casing having an open top dash-pot cylinder, a main lift valve normally resting onsaid seat, and having a relief passage, a

tance below said main valve to engage the same at one side of said passage to lift and tilt said main valve, said lift rod comprising The expense of grinding the metal surfaces of the cylinders. exceeds the cost 'relief lift valve normally closing said passage, a vertically movablepiston in saidv a lower section having an external screw thread and an upper section carrying said relief valve and said projection, said sections being united by screw threads, a transversely arranged element on said lower rod section above said piston, said lower rod section having an abutment, and an operating shaft having a radial lifting arm loosely engagin said abutment to lift said rod, substantially as described.

2. In flushing apparatus a vertically disposed casing having an inlet and an outlet and an intermediate internal valve seat, a vertical open top dash pot cylinder secured to said casing in downward continuation thereof, a main lift valve to rest on said seat and having a relief passage, a relief lift valve normally closing said passage, 9,

vertically movable dash pot piston in said cylinder, a lift rod threaded at its lower end and a-owing into said piston and passing lily loosc v hroiigh said passage and 4 ring said micf valve and provided with a. radial projection below said mam valve gage the same at one side of said pasi and lift and tilt said valve, said lift rod comprising upper and lower sections united by crew threads, said lower section being longitudinally slotted and provided with an abutment, and rock shaft mounted in the casing and having an exterior handle and an interior radial lifting arm projecting loosely into said slot to engage said abutment.

8. In flushing apparatus, in combination, a verticallv disposed casing having an inlet and an. outlet and an intermediate internal valve seat, a vertical open-top dash pot cylinder forming a rigid downward continuation of said casing, a main lift valve normally resting on said seat and having a. relief passage, a relief lift valve normally closing said passage, a vertically movable dash pot piston in said cylinder, :1 1nainvalve-lift rod threaded at its lower end and screwed into said piston and passing upwardly loosely through said passage and carrying said relief valve, said rod comprising upper and lower sections united by screw threads, the lower section being longitudinallv' slotted and provided with an abutment, a transversely arranged element located on said lower section belovvgthe slot therein and above said piston to receive the impact of the downward flow of water in said casing, and a rock snatit mounted in the casing and having a lifting arm extending into said slot to engage said abutment.

4; In flushing apparatus, in combination,

a vertically disposed casing having an inlet arranged to receive the impact of the downward flow of water through the casing, and operating means adapted to lift said rod, substantially as described.

5. In flushing apparatus, in'combination, a vertically disposed casing having an inlet and an outlet and an intermediate internal valve seat, a vertical open-topdash pot cylinder forming a rigid downward continuation of said casing, a main lift valve nor mally resting on said seat and having a relief passage, a relief lift valve normally closing said passage, a vertically movable dash pot piston in said cylinder, a vertical lift rod at its lower end fixed to said piston and passing upwardly loosely through said passage and carrying said relief valve and provided with a radial projection below said main valve to engage the same at one side of said passage to tilt and lift said main valve,

and operating means for lifting said rod, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LEO SIMMONS.

lVitnesses HUBERT E. PEGK, 

